Pressure regulator



Feb. 27, L C' RONEY PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed July l, 1946 /N VEN TOR HONEY LEONARD c.

A TTORNEV Patented Fles. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,543,203 v l v v l PRESSURE REciULA'roav Leonard C. Roney, Los Angeles, -Calif. Application July 1, 1946, Serial No. 680,653

l Claim. l

This invention relates to pressure regulating valves, and in particular relates to the improvement of that certain type of pressure regulator forming the subject of United States Lettersl Patent No. 2,302,175, issued to James H. Bowen, November 17, 1942, which have special utility in gas systems fed from metal storage containers, the quantity of stored gas in which is diminished in use with concurrent proportional decrease in gas pressure.

In gas systems of the type referred to in the foregoing, it has beenfound that when a new tank is connected to the system, an ample flow of gas will be obtained for the reason that the inlet pressure of the gas fed to the pressure regulator is sufllcient to produce the required flow of gas through the inlet orifice of the valve and the space between the valve seat and the closure,

lbut when the tank pressure becomes depleted to a rlow value, v'for example, around five or ten pounds per square inch, the control valve of the ordinary type many times will not open sunlciently to give the volumetric flow of gas necessary for suitable operation of burners fed by the gas system.

One achievement of the -regulator described in the patent referred to is insurance of an ample flow of gas under conditions or relatively low pressures which result from removal of gas from the container. as well as the provision of adequate, but not excessive, flow when the fully charged container has just been connected to the gas consuming system,

A disadvantage of the regulator of the Bowen patent is its cost of manufacture, and it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a pressure regulator which has all cf the advantages of the pressure regulator disclosed in the Bowen patent, but which, at the same time, is of such a construction that it is more economical to manufacture, assemble and to repair and replace parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pressure regulator in which machine work is reduced to a minimum without sacrificing any of the features and advantages of the pressure regulator described in the Bowen patent.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pressure regulator of the type referred to in which the regulation provided by the pressure regulator is relatively unaffected over long periods of use.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide in a pressure regulator of the type referred to, a construction which is relatively rugged.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1` is a vertical sectional view in a plane including the axis of flow through a pressure regulator embodying my invention;

(ci. sri- 26) Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section transverse the axis of flow at line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is-a vertical section transverse the axis of flow at line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section and plan view at and from line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section in elevation at line 6--5 of Figs. l and 4.

In the drawings there is shown a pressure regulator I0 havlng'a base I2 and a hood I4. The base I2 provides a gas pressure chamber concavity I6, and the hood I4 provides an atmospheric pressure chamber concavity I8.

The base I2 is provided with a flange 20 surrounding the concavity therein, and the hood I4 is provided with a flange '22 surrounding the cavity therein. The base I2 and the hood I4 are secured together with a diaphragm 24 therebetween, as shown, by means` of suitable bolts (not shown) passing through flanges 28 and 22 and tightened to form a seal in a conventional manner. Concavities I6 and I8, therefore, form a diaphragm chamber. A portion of the concavity I6 has a trough 26 which receives therein a lever arm 28, actuated by the diaphragm 24 in a manner more particularly described hereinafter.

Beneath the trough 26 the body I2 provides therethrough, a passage generally characterized by the numeral 30. The body I2 is formed to provide in the passage 38 a gradual restriction thereof toward a central region thereof at 32. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the passage 30 increases in both directions from the region 32, the interior surfaces of the passage defining the increasing cross-sections being preferably conoidal and, therefore, of right circular section, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood by those familiar with such matters that when gas is forced through this passage the velocity is greatest in the region 32, and by a well known principle, known asl Bernoullis theorem, thepressure, of all points in the passage, is least at region 32.

The body I2 is further formed to provide at one end of the passage 30 flow regulating region 46, and a valve chamber 34. Valve chamber 34 is somewhat larger in diameter than, and is disposed at the outermost end 36 of the passage. The body I2, leftward of valve chamber 34, provides a plurality of flutes 38 formed in the section 4I of the body I2. The flutes 38 are formed, to extend longitudinally from the chamber 34, in an interiorly cylindrical Wall surface 42 in the body section 4I. The flutes terminate slightly rlghtward of the region 44 which also is the beginning of the reducing portion 45 of the conoidal interior passage defining the restriction at region 32 above referred to.

From the region 32 of passage 30 the conoidal portion of the passage expands leftward toward an outlet at 62, forming the portion 41 of tapered right circular sections. It will be evident that the body l2 can easily be cast or machined to form the tapered passage portions 45 and 41 and that the flutes 38, and the chamber 34, may also be easily formed by the casting and/or machining operations. The cylindrical surfaces 42 are the portions of the body member concerned with'ilow regulation which are machined.

The concavity I6 is defined by inclined wall sections 46, through lateral wall sections 48 and end wall sections 50, and a longitudinal web section 52, forming the floor of trough 26, and the greater part of the ceiling of the passage 30, all of which sections are portions of body I2. The balance of the passage 30 underlying the concavity I6 is formed by a tubular section 54 of body I2. Section 54 provides at the valve chamber end 36 thereof a projecting fitting receiver 56, lwhich is internally threaded at 58 to receive a tting |04 to be described. Tubular section 54 provides at the discharge end thereof a delivery fitting receiver projection 60, which is internally threaded as at 62 to receive the threaded end ofl a pipe or fitting (not shown) connected to :gas utilization apparatus, also not shown.

Suitable mounting bosses 65 are formed on the bottom of the body I2 which are drilled and tapped to receive screws 61.

The hood member I4 includes a centrally disposed tubular portion 64 which is provided with an internal thread 66. The hood I 4 further comprises the radially flat, or disc-like portion I5 having a belled portion |`1 to form the concavity I8, which terminates in the radial ange 22 to form a flat diaphragm engaging surface 2| in a radial plane of the axis of tube portion 64.

A spring seating ring 68 is provided with external threading and received by thread 66. Spring seating member 68 further provides a central access opening 1| for adjustment of a nut ,98 to be described. Spring seating member 68 includes an interior annular flange 12 which provides a spring seat 13 disposed toward diaphragm 24. Spring seating member 68 further includes a. cylindrical wall 69 'surrounding seat 13 to form a spring centering portion of the seat.

A sealing closure cap 14 closes the passage otherwise formed by tubular portion64 between concavity I8, and atmosphere hood |4 further provides threaded outlet 16 to which a suitable vent tube, not shown, is normally connected to atmosphere outside a building in order to provide atmospheric pressure in concavity I8 and to vent escaping gas at a safe distance, should the diaphragm 24 permit leakage.

To further eect a thorough seal of the hood cavity I8 against gas escape, a gasket 15 is clamped against the upper end of tube 64 by a flange 11 formed on cap 14. The diaphragm 24 has a central hole therein through which there is inserted a linkage tting 18 having a cylindrical body portion 19 and a reduced threaded spring adjustment and seating nut receiving portion 80 extending through the concavity I8 and into the passage'formed by tubular portion 64. The linkage fitting 18 is further provided with an annular ange 82 disposed in the concavity I6. The flange 82 is provided with a full circumferentially extensive axially disposed lip 84 abutting against the lower or pressure side of the diaphragm 24. The linkage fitting 18 is further provided with two trunnion forming extensions 86, one at each side of the central axis of body 19. Extensions 86 are disposed in concavity I6 and are provided with aligned bearing holes 88 therein. A linkage pin 90 is disposed through holes 88 and engages, through a slot 92 in a regulator lever arm 28. Thus, a required connection is formed between thev tting 18 and the regulator lever arm 28.

' The diaphragm 24 has disposed thereagainst at the side opposite lip 84, a flat surfaced backing washer 84 provided with a central hole for passage therethrough of portions 18 and 80 of the linkage fitting. The washer 84 is also provided with a circumferentially fully extensive curled v4edge 86, rolled away from the diaphragm to protect the diaphragm in its exure thereagainst.

A-springV seating nut 88 provided with a spring centralizing seat as shown, is received on the vthreaded portion of linkage fitting 18 and a coil spring |00 surrounds the portiony 18 and bears against nut 98, and washer 84, to effect a gastight seal by the coaction of lip 84, compressing the diaphragm against the washer 94 as shown. By removing cap 14, access is had for adjustment of nut 88 and ring 68.

Upward motion of the diaphragm 24 under action of gas pressure increases in concavity I6l is opposed by a second coil spring |02, the ends of which are, respectively, seated against seating ring 68 and washer 84, as shown.

The valve and movable regulator components of the ow regulator will be described in the following. An'inlet fitting |04 is provided having adapter threadings 59 and |09. The threading 59 thereof is engaged in threading 58 of projection 56, and the threading |09 is disposed for connection to a bottle (not shown) containing gas under high pressure. The inlet fitting |04 so mounted provides a ow restricting hole |08 coml municating the valve chamber 34 with the gas bottle. Surrounding the hole |08, within the chamber 36, the inlet fitting |04 provides a valve seat ||0. The movable portions of the valve and flow regulator will now be described.

The regulator has a piston ||2 which slides in the previously described cylinder 42, formed by section 40 between utes 382 A valve I I4, mounted in the head of a screw |I6 which is carried by piston II2, reciprocates therewith toward and away from seating engagement with valve seat ||0, so as to close or open the hole |08 against gas passage.

The piston ||2 has secured thereto a connecting rod I|8 of uniform cross-section along'its length, by which the piston is caused to reciprocate as will be pointed out. The length of piston I I2 along its axis is, as shown in Fig. l, less than the length of the flutes 38 so that the passageways or flutes 38 will always remain open.

The connecting rod ||8 extends toward the opposite end of passage 30 from chamber 34, and is provided near the downstream end thereof, with a slide-entering drilled recess |20, and an end-entering drilled and tapped hole to receive a screw |22. Screw |22 has a cupped end |24 which extends into the recess |20.

A bell crank 21, which provides the lever arm 28, and provides a lever arm |26, is provided on the end of the arm with a ball |28. The ball |28 is operatively held in the intersection of drilled entries of connecting rod |I9 by the screw |22.

The bell crank lever 21 is provided with a fulcrum elbow 29- providing a cylindrical hole |30 therethrough at right angles to the common plane of lever arms 28 and |26. The elbow 29 is provided with flat sides 29a at right transverse planes to the axis of hole |30. 'The elbow 29 provides a surface 29h externally right cylindric upon the axis of hole |80. at the outside of the knee formed by the bell cranks 28 and |26, and elbow 29 also provides a surface 29c externally cylindric upon the axis of hole 30 at the inside of the knee formed by the bell crank 21.

A rectangular hole |32 is formed through the web 52, of a size to receive the elbow 29, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, opposite drill hole |20; and a shelf |34 is formed therearound to provide a seat |36 for a rectangular sealing gasket |42. The web 52 is further provided with recesses |38 wherein there is fastened a pivot pin |40, which passes through bearing hole |30 in the cylindrical elbow of the bell crank lever.

The rubber seal |42 is provided with 'a rectangular opening, through which the ball |28 and arm |26 are passed during assembly. The pin |40 is held in place by a headed screw |44 received in a tapped recess in the body I2, as shown.

A hole |42 is provided through web 52 at the restricted region 32, to communicate the lowest pressure region |32 in the tube with the concavity I6.

In manufacture the assembled connecting rod ||8, piston ||2, valve ||4, and loosely held screw |22, are passed leftward through chamber end 36, the left end of rod ||8 being positioned opposite opening |34. The fitting course, be fixed after the regulator assembly has been inserted in passage 30.

The fulcrum seal |42 is emplaced. 'I'he bell crank lever and linkage can now be installed with the fulcrum, and the screw |22 taken up against ball |28. The pin |40 is then fastened down. The diaphragm 24, with its washer 94, are next emplaced. The spring |00 and the nut 98 are then assembled. The spring |02 and assembled hood |4 may then be bolted to the base and diaphragm.

In describing the operation, it is to be understood that the closed position of valve ||4, as shown, is representative of the position of the parts when, through closure of valves in `utilization apparatus, not shown, practically no gas passes the outlet 62, and gas pressure is applying a thrust upward against the diaphragm 24, sufficient to close valve I4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by properly machining the surface 42 of the body section 4|, and the outer cylindrical surface of the piston ||2, that the movable assembly comprising the piston ||2 and the connecting rod 8, and parts supported thereby, are slidably supported in proper operating positions.

|04 may, of

The leftward end of the connecting rod I |8 may receive some support from the arm and ball |26 and |28 respectively, to take some of the disaligning pressure oii' of the inter-engaging machine surface 42 and the cylindrical surface of the piston ||2. By forming the body |2 with the Venturi-shaped passage 30, and by forming the enlarged chamber with the flutes 38 for receiving the piston ||2, not only is the efficient Venturi action achieved, but, as previously explained, machining is reduced to a minimum.

The operation oi my invention is substantially the same as that in the Bowen patent previously referred to, except that by reason of the passage 30 being formed in an efficient venturi, by reason of placing the opening 32 at the diameter of smallest cross-section, the regulator o! my invention is even more eflicient than the regulator of the Bowen patent.

When no gas is being withdrawn from the Diping in which the regulator is connected, the

valve ||4 is held against the valve seat ||0. However, when gas is withdrawn from the system, the gas pressure in the left end of the passage 30 will be reduced, which will almost instantaneously result in a movement of the regulating member or assembly carrying the valve ||4, and allow gas to start to flow through the passage 30. The gas flows through the flutes 38 around to the piston ||2 and through the Venturi passage 30. Due to the Venturi shape of this passage, its velocity is greatest at the zone of the opening 32, and this causes an immediate and induced reduction in pressure in the concavity I6. This assures a full opening ofl the valve and a removal of the valve ||4 from the seat ||0 a suiilcient distance to assure adequate space for the necessary flow of gas through the regulator and the piping connected thereto.

By reason of the lack of any restriction around the piston ||2, and by reason of the eflicient Venturi action, the regulator of my invention will insure an adequate supply of gas even though the pressure in the supply tank is relatively low.

I claim: Y

In gas flow apparatus: wall means defining a fiuid flow passage having a Venturi-shaped portion, an enlarged portion adjacent one end of said passage and a valve seat at said end, said Wall means having an opening therein at the throat of said Venturi-shaped portion and a second opening adjacent the end of the passage opposite the enlarged portion; a plurality of annularly spaced lilutes extending radially inwardly of said enlarged portion of the passage and of less width than the radius of said enlarged portion; a valve member slidably received on the inner edges of said flutes for movement toward and away from said valve seat; an elongated element connected at one end to said valve member and extending through the Venturi shaped portion of the passage, said element being of less diameter than the throat of the Venturi'shaped portion and being of uniform cross section; a movable wall responsive to variations in the differential of pressure on opposite sides thereof; means for connecting said movable wall with said element, said means including a portion extending through the second opening; sealing means for said second opening for sealing said opening against the passage of iiuid therethrough; and means for subjecting said movable wall to a pressure derived through the first mentioned opening in the wall means.

LEONARD C.' RONEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,097,322 Hodge May 19, 1 14 1,263,792 Mueller Apr. 23 918 1,540,439 Thrall June 2, 1925 2,302,175 Bowen Nov. 17, 1942 2,323,888 Wright July 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 42,222 Netherlands Dec. 15, 1937 367,284 Great Britain Feb. 18. 1932 370,907 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1932 

